Origin

The Bible is more wonderful and unique than any other book in the world. We can see this in different
ways.

No one man or group of men planned the Bible. It was written
in different lands over a period of 1600 years. The very existence of such a book is an
overwhelming proof that the Bible is not of man, but that it is a production of
God.

2 Peter 1:21 says that 'For the prophecy came not in old
time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy
Ghost.'

It comes to us not at man's initiative but because men were
moved by the Holy Spirit to speak `from God'. Scripture is inspired by God
Himself.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 'All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good
works.'
The Bible is not the oldest book, but though the first part of it was written more
than 3,000 years ago and the last part nearly 2,000 years ago, today it is more popular
than any modern book just off the press.

Unity and Diversity

The Bible is one great book with one great theme, Jesus Christ the Saviour of
Mankind. Although it contains 66 separate writings from
40 different authors, in three different languages, upon different
topics, and under
different circumstances, yet it reveals a common message. Who could have possibly directed
the writing of each and planned the whole except God.

Inspiration

When we say that Scripture is inspired by God
Himself this does not mean that we must regard the writers of the Bible as robots or
scribes taking dictation. No, God uses living human beings in His
service. He even allows
them a major role in giving shape to the Word He speaks to mankind. The individuality of
the Bible's human authors comes through clearly, even though God Himself is the real
author of Scripture.

To recognise the role of certain human beings
in writing the books that make up our Bible is not to say that there are errors and
contradictions in the Bible. We are not to declare that God's Word is in the Bible - in
and among all those words written by human beings. The Bible is God's authoritative
Word.
And that is where we must start in our study of the Word of God.

Authority

Because we have received the Bible from the
hand of the King of kings, we must accept it as authoritative. Jehovah is not only the God
who acts, but he is also the God who speaks. More than 2,000 times in the Old Testament
the words `thus saith the Lord' or similar terms are used. No other book matches such
claims.

And its authority is lasting. We cannot say
that we live in another time and so it does not apply to us today. Or His authority was
only binding as long as Christ's apostles walked the earth. The Bible's authority is not
time-bound. Scripture is God's Word for a thousand generations.

Completed Revelation

The confession and cry of the Reformation was
sola Scriptura, 'By Scripture alone'. It means that the Bible is no longer open to
correction through later revelations. There are no continuing Scriptural revelations in
our age. The Lord has already revealed all that we need to know. The Bible is
complete. We
must not try to go beyond what is written. Revelation 22:18 We don't have to wait for a
fifth gospel. What we have already been told about Christ is all we need in order to know
God and serve Him effectively.

Today there are many Christians who do believe
in continuing revelation. The Bible is not the only 'Scripture' they
value; they find
traces of divine inspiration in other documents and writings as well. But
God's word
leaves no room for any other `word' of comparable authority.

Then there are those Christians who make a
point of declaring that they accept the Bible's authority wholeheartedly but they still
wind up undermining it. They say there is still room for more revelation to be revealed by
the Holy Spirit. We are not apostles who have been promised a special, secret message from
the Lord, and therefore we may not hope for a new, further revelation. We have Moses and
the prophets and the New Testament Scriptures in addition. We have seen the fulfillment of
the truth even Christ. That should be enough for us. The Scriptures are not open anymore
they are complete. We are rich in possessing the Word of God, and it would be sinful to
long for more.

Clarity

Don't let anyone tell you that the Bible is a murky, dark, or mysterious
book. Scripture calls itself a light, a lamp.

But this is not to say that there are no
difficult texts in the Bible. There are. There are doctrines which surpass the
comprehension of created beings that are clearly taught. (Trinity, Natures of
Christ, etc.) But the Bible's message for us is fully understandable. All those things which are
necessary to be known, believed, and observed, for salvation are so clearly revealed in
some place of Scripture, that every serious inquirer, using ordinary
means, may understand them. It is not a mystery that can be comprehended only by members of a certain closed
circle in the Church. Scripture is the revelation of a mystery. Isaiah 45:19 says 'I have
not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth'.'

But the fact that God has spoken clearly about
hard things does not make them easy. But those who study diligently will be rewarded for
their labours. If you read the Scriptures carefully and pray for the guidance of the
Spirit, you will receive insight. The Lord will repay your efforts as you study His
Word.
Even if some passage leaves you scratching your head the first time you read
it, remember
that one part of scripture sheds light on another. So keep reading, God will make it
clear.

Perservation

John Owen the great Puritan said that the
malice of Satan hath raged no less against the Book than against the truth contained in
it. History shows that mighty kings, emperors, and priest have tried at times to
burn,
corrupt and destroy the Bible.

Pagan Attack

Diocletian, the Roman Emperor made a decree in 303 A.D. to
extinguish the Bible and Slaughter all Christians. He boasted that the name Christian was
blotted out. In 325 A.D. Constantine said the Bible is the infallible judge of
truth. They
have died but the Bible lives on.

Church Attack

The Roman Catholic Church during the middle Ages
denied the Bible to the people. The Bible was the unknown Book.
Wycliffe, Tyndale and
Luther were persecuted because they translated the Bible into the language of the
people.
Luther was a grown man when he said he had never seen a Bible in his
Life. Many men and
women have died rather than deny the Bible and the Christ it
presents.

Liberal Attack

The Bible has also suffered the blows of men who
have taught that it was not inspired of God but was full of human
errors. The higher critics, rationalists, modernists, and liberals seek to undermine the
authority,
inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible. Voltaire (1773) boasted that within 100 years of
his death not a Bible would be found save as an antiquarian
curiosity. These men have
passed away but the Word of God remains.